Onsted football stuns Blissfield for 1st win

Saturday

Oct 13, 2012 at 9:20 AMOct 13, 2012 at 9:26 AM

Wildcats score in final minute for 23-22 victory

By David GiffordDaily Telegram Special Writer

It might be difficult to blame some Onsted High School football fans if they left the Blissfield-Onsted football game at halftime on a chilly Friday night. After all, Blissfield was in full control with a dominating first-half performance, leading Onsted 22-0 at the break.

But those who stayed were rewarded with a fantastic finish that saw the Wildcats score with 45 seconds left on the clock to tie the game, and then use their backup kicker to boot the winning extra point for a 23-22 Lenawee County Athletic Association victory.

"We came out super flat," said Onsted coach Dan Terryberry. "I think we were nervous, but if you've been to all of our eight games, you would see the improvement these kids have made. I've never been so happy for a group of seniors who won their last game on their home field."

The win shifts Onsted to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in league play, while the loss dampens Blissfield's playoff hopes, dropping the Royals to 4-4 (4-3 LCAA) with one game remaining.

The Royals could not have started the game much better. Blissfield used its powerful running attack to drain the clock and pile on the yardage.

On Blissfield's first possession, a 43-yard gain by Lee Keinath put the ball on Onsted's 3-yard line, and Brad Lietzke took it in the end zone on the next play. After Luke Cassaubon ran in the two-point conversion, Blissfield led 8-0 with just over four minutes taken off the clock.

The rest of the half didn't get much better for Onsted. The Royals held the ball for a little over 18 of the first 24 minutes of the game. They also outgained the Wildcats in yards 202-39. Blissfield opened up a 22-0 lead.

But high school football games are 48 minutes, and Onsted is glad they are.

The second half didn't open any better for the Wildcats. Onsted opened the half from its own 39-yard line, and on its first play, Blissfield's Zech Bostick stepped in front of a pass and picked it off, running it back to midfield.

Blissfield was once again on the move, gaining two first downs, before the Onsted defense stiffened. The Wildcats forced a fourth-and-1 in their own territory and stuffed the Blissfield ball carrier for no gain.

And the tides started to change.

A pass interference call took the Wildcats into Blissfield territory. After a 20-yard completion from Colt Niezuarawski to Reese Klebba, Onsted had the ball on the Blissfield 20-yard line. Three incomplete passes brought fourth-and-10. Niezuarawski spotted fullback Adam Biek tracking out into the flat and flipped him the ball. Biek did the rest, rumbling into the end zone, getting a nice block on the way, and Onsted was on the board. After converting the two-point pass, Onsted was down 22-8.

Onsted's Matt Stark hawked down the Blissfield return man on the ensuing kickoff, forcing a fumble that Onsted recovered on their sideline. One minute and 36 seconds after their first touchdown, the Wildcats scored again on a pass from Niezuarawski to Klebba. The two also hooked up on the conversion to put the Wildcats down 22-16.

"We made a lot of mistakes and didn't defend their pass well in the second half," said Blissfield coach Ron Estes. "Give Onsted credit. They had a lot of fight in them, but we knew they would. It wasn't unexpected."

The teams traded possessions before Onsted took over on its own 23-yard line with 2:53 left in the game. The Wildcats moved the ball near midfield with two minutes left. Niezuarawski dropped back and threw a well designed screen pass to Biek, who gained 26 yards on the play down to the Royals 30-yard line.

From the 26-yard line, Niezuarawski found Stark over the middle for a gain of 23 and gave the Wildcats first-and-goal from the 3-yard line. After a run, a penalty, and an incomplete pass, the Wildcats found themselves with third-and-goal from the 8-yard line.

With 1-on-1 coverage on the outside, Niezuarawski lofted a pass to Klebba on the left side of the end zone. Klebba was looking over his right shoulder, saw that the ball was thrown on the outside, and made an adjustment, spinning his body and reaching for the ball at the same time. He came down with it, and as the official's hands went up to signal touchdown, the Onsted crowd went wild, but paled in comparison to the celebration on the Onsted sideline, as the players could feel the win was in their grasp.

Zack Cranson kicked the extra point to give Onsted a one-point lead.

Blissfield got the ball back with 40 seconds left, but the Onsted defense held, and the Wildcats celebrated their first win on the seniors' last home game.

"We stuck together, and my offensive line gets all the credit in the world for giving me time," said Niezuarawski. "This is the greatest feeling in the world, and I wouldn't want it any different. I'm so proud of our team."